Merchandise import volume index in South Africa
South Africa: Merchandise import volume index was 97.03 in 2009. ▲ Rising
Latest (2009)
97.03
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
39th
of 45 countries
All-time high
130.8
in 2003
All-time low
33.2
in 1978
Years of data
45
1965–2009
Merchandise import volume index in South Africa, 1965–2009
Source: World Bank country economists.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 97.03 for merchandise import volume index in 2009.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, merchandise import volume index in South Africa peaked at 130.8 in 2003 and was at its lowest, 33.2, in 1978.
That places South Africa 39th out of 45 countries with data for 2009, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Merchandise import volume index in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 50.27 | — |
| 1966 | 55.18 | +9.8% |
| 1967 | 47.29 | -14.3% |
| 1968 | 52.88 | +11.8% |
| 1969 | 65.32 | +23.5% |
| 1970 | 62.63 | -4.1% |
| 1971 | 56.51 | -9.8% |
| 1972 | 47.54 | -15.9% |
| 1973 | 47.62 | +0.2% |
| 1974 | 47.65 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 41.1 | -13.8% |
| 1976 | 46.3 | +12.7% |
| 1977 | 39.4 | -14.9% |
| 1978 | 33.2 | -15.7% |
| 1979 | 39.3 | +18.4% |
| 1980 | 34.7 | -11.7% |
| 1981 | 34.6 | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 35.7 | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 42.6 | +19.3% |
| 1984 | 42.3 | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 40 | -5.4% |
| 1986 | 39.8 | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 41.7 | +4.8% |
| 1988 | 45.2 | +8.4% |
| 1989 | 52.3 | +15.7% |
| 1990 | 60.9 | +16.4% |
| 1991 | 66.1 | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 70 | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 71.5 | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 65.6 | -8.3% |
| 1995 | 69 | +5.2% |
| 1996 | 69.2 | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 72.6 | +4.9% |
| 1998 | 78.1 | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 90.2 | +15.5% |
| 2000 | 100 | +10.9% |
| 2001 | 118.3 | +18.3% |
| 2002 | 128.9 | +9.0% |
| 2003 | 130.8 | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 108 | -17.4% |
| 2005 | 89.64 | -17.0% |
| 2006 | 91.44 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 93.27 | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 95.13 | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 97.03 | +2.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 97.03 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 104.5, 93% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 97.03 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 188.8, 51% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 54.19 | 47.29 | 65.32 | 5 |
| 1970s | 46.13 | 33.2 | 62.63 | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.89 | 34.6 | 52.3 | 10 |
| 1990s | 71.32 | 60.9 | 90.2 | 10 |
| 2000s | 105.25 | 89.64 | 130.8 | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 36 Guinea-Bissau 106.66 compare
- 37 Cape Verde 104.5 compare
- 38 Central African Republic 100.06 compare
- 40 Botswana 92.13 compare
- 41 Burundi 80.71 compare
- 42 Equatorial Guinea 75.88 compare
More trade data for South Africa
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 109.35 (2025)
- Commodity Net Export Price Index, Individual Commodities Weighted by 100.81 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 99.79 (2025)
- Commodity Export Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 95.89 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 98.98 (2025)
- Commodity Import Price Index, Individual Commodites Weighted by Ratio 77.42 (2025)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, Percent of GDP 1.03 (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 64.23 units per person (2024)
- Imports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), per 0.0102 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Exports of low carbon technology products, US dollar (World), gaps 1.75 billion (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is merchandise import volume index in South Africa?
- Merchandise import volume index in South Africa was 97.03 in 2009, according to World Bank country economists.
- What is the highest merchandise import volume index recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 130.8 in 2003.
- What is the lowest merchandise import volume index recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.2 in 1978.
- How does South Africa rank for merchandise import volume index?
- South Africa ranks 39th out of 45 countries with data for 2009.
- Is merchandise import volume index rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank country economists, published as part of Merchandise import volume index. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total merchandise imports volume index with 1987=100.